Commercial Space Flight

Space Medicine Association:
Section on Commercial Human Spaceflight

Beginning in the 1980s, NASA began seeking ways to shift routine space operations to the commercial sector. The retirement of the shuttle program in 2004 accelerated the need for private sector partnerships and saw the emergence of new spaceflight operators. Numerous operators have established themselves as important elements in the transportation of both crew and cargo into low earth orbit. In addition, a nascent space tourism industry has emerged and is focused on enabling broader public access to spaceflight that had previously been limited to career astronauts and extremely wealthy individuals traveling as tourists aboard the Space Shuttle and the Soyuz. With the anticipated growth of commercial human spaceflight and space tourism, there will inevitably arise novel aeromedical challenges with regards to the health and safety of crews and passengers. This section is intended to provide a concise summary of the objectives, proposed flight profiles and vehicles, and anticipated aeromedical challenges that will be faced by commercial operators. The commercial spaceflight sector is a dynamic and ever-evolving industry. Therefore we have also included helpful links to websites with more detailed information beyond the scope of this text as well as real time updates via twitter feeds on the most recent events in the field.

SpaceX

“SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not.”
Operating Principle: “Manufacture and launch rockets and spacecraft…with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets”

Current Destinations: Low-earth orbit, geo-synchronous transfer orbit
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[accordion title=”Read More about Space X” load=”hide”]Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, or SpaceX, (www.spacex.com), established in 2002 by former PayPal founder Elon Musk, is focused on development and production of reusable launch vehicles to reduce launch costs and enable cheaper access to space. SpaceX is one of two companies currently contracting with NASA through the Commercial Resupply Services contract. The Falcon 9 rocket with 9 Merlin 1 engines is SpaceX’s primary launch vehicle and has delivered cargo to the International Space Station via the Dragon capsule. SpaceX recently unveiled Dragon v2, its first-generation crew capsule intended to transport NASA astronauts to low earth orbit.
SpaceX Dragon V2
Inaugural Launch Date 2016
Acceleration Profile In development/testing
Passenger capacity 7 crew members
Life Support System In development
Crew Worn Equipment In development
Destinations LEO, capability exists to land on Moon and Mars

Orbital Sciences

Operating Principle: “Orbital’s fundamental purpose has been to create outstanding value for our customers by providing innovative, reliable, and affordable space and launch systems that enable or enhance commercial, civil government and defense operations.”

Current Destinations: Low-earth orbit
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[accordion title=”Read More about Orbital Sciences” load=”hide”]Orbital Sciences Corporation founded in 1982, was one the first commercial enterprises to build and launch its own rockets. Since its inception, OSC has grown tremendously providing space and launch capabilities for the commercial, government and defense sectors. Traditionally, Orbital Sciences has focused on small and medium payload launches. However, with the development of its Antares rocket and Cygnus cargo capsule, Orbital Sciences earned NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services contract and has begun delivering cargo to the ISS. Orbital Sciences has plans to refit its Cygnus capsule to enable it to carry 3 to 4 crew with an anticipated launch date sometime in 2016. In addition, it recently released a proposal for the Exploration Augmentation Module (EAM), a reconfigured Cygnus module which would attach to NASA’s Orion multi-purpose crew vehicle and provide additional habitation capabilities, thereby enabling NASA to pursue more distant space destinations.
Taurus-2 Cygnus-based astronaut crew capsule Exploration Augmentation Module
Inaugural Launch Date 2016 TBD
Acceleration Profile In development/testing None; boarded in orbit
Passenger capacity 3-4 crew members 3-4 crew members
Life Support System TBD Life support, waste management, thermal control
Crew Worn Equipment TBD None
Destinations LEO CIS-lunar, high-altitude earth orbit
Reusable TBD TBD

BOEING

Operating Principle: To build and launch a commercial space transportation vehicle that is reusable, adaptable with multiple launch platforms, and can meet the needs of both commercial and government clients to provide transportation to the ISS and future private space stations

Current vehicle(s): Commercial Space Transportation 100 vehicle (human-rated capsule), or in the words of one journalist, a “private space taxi”

Current Destinations: Low-earth orbit
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[accordion title=”Read More about Boeing” load=”hide”]Boeing in collaboration with Bigelow Aerospace and funded in part by NASA’s Commercial Crew Development and Commercial Crew Integrated Capability programs is developing the commercial space transportation (CST) 100 vehicle. The figure below highlights the planned life-cycle for the CST-100. The vehicle is unique in that it is being built to be compatible with multiple launch platforms including the United Launch Alliances Atlas V rocket, the Delta IV rocket, and SpaceX’s Falcon 9. It is set to launch crew or any paying passenger to the ISS and other low earth orbit destinations beginning in 2017. One important limitation of the CST-100 is that it is intended as primarily a shuttle or “space taxi” to lower earth orbit and is not, as of now, capable of transporting crew to more distant destinations.
CST-100
Inaugural Launch Date 2017
Acceleration Profile In development/testing
Passenger capacity 7 crew members
Life Support System TBD
Crew Worn Equipment TBD
Destinations LEO – ISS, other LEO destinations
Reusable Yes up to 10 times
EXPECTED AEROMEDICAL CHALLENGES:
3) Developing human-rated cargo capsule with sufficient redundancy and safety mechanisms to meet NASA standards
4) Development of crew spacesuits versus adoption of current design
VIDEOS:
3) Vimeo: vimeo.com/tag:boeing
4) Youtube
a. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VYIUi9H3vM&list=PL2jATyVdY-7EXxvWX1KdI60Eb1IWKFArf
b. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdQfdKkr46U
c. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlJBdY2rXY0
d. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTh_whMgDwc
NEWS:
1) http://www.beyondearth.com/news?filter=Commercial_Crew_Transportation_System
2) http://www.universetoday.com/103660/spacesuited-astronauts-climb-aboard-boeing-cst-100-commercial-crew-capsule/
— USEFUL LINKS:
1) Boeing Beyond Earth: http://www.beyondearth.com/space-systems/commercial-crew-transportation-system
2) Boeing Commercial Crew: http://www.boeing.com/boeing/defense-space/space/ccts/index.page?
3) Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CST-100
SOCIAL MEDIA:
1) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/CST-100/139067012787991
2) Twitter: https://twitter.com/BoeingDefense
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES:
1) http://www.boeing.com/boeing/careers/index.page?
2) https://www.linkedin.com/company/boeing
Additional considerations:
– Live twitter feed
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Virgin Galactic

Operating Principle: Virgin Galactic seeks to open up sub-orbital spaceflight to the masses by combining advanced carbon composite technologies with a unique horizontal launch profile and hybrid rocket engine, glider vehicle. This approach has produced a reusable spacecraft that is unique in its ability to conduct multiple flights within the same day thereby dramatically cutting costs.

Current Destinations: Sub-orbital parabolic trajectories
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[accordion title=”Read More about Virgin Galactic” load=”hide”]Virgin Galactic, founded by Sir Richard Branson, arose out of the acquisition of the SpaceShipOne concept vehicle, winner of the Ansari X prize in 2004 and developed by Burt Rutan. Working with Scaled Composites, Virgin Galactic has developed further developed the SpaceShipOne concept to produce and launch SpaceShipTwo (SS2). SS2 utilizes a unique horizontal launch profile which is shown in the diagram above. SS2 carries up to 6 passengers and two crew and utilizes a hybrid rocket engine for ascent and a unique glider mechanism on descent. It is carried to an altitude of 50,000 feet by a highly modified, all carbon-fiber, dual fuselage airplane, the VirginMotherShip Eve, where it free falls for 5 seconds before igniting its hybrid engines. After reaching a maximum altitude of 360,000 feet, SpaceShipTwo deploys its unique feathering wings to maintain stability as it glides back to Spaceport America. This unique flight profile will enable VG to conduct multiple flights per day if needed. In addition, VG has constructed one of the first fully commercial spaceports, called Spaceport America in New Mexico that will service its fleet of aircraft and spacecraft. VG’s mission to open up spaceflight to the masses poses unique aeromedical challenges that will require dedicated research and clinical efforts to help establish best-practice guidelines to ensure the safety of passengers and minimize the risk of in-flight events.
SpaceShipTwo
Inaugural Launch Date 2014
Acceleration Profile Max Gx 6.0, Max Gz 3.8
Passenger capacity 6 passengers, 2 crewmembers
Life Support System None, shirt-sleeve
Crew Worn Equipment TBD
Destinations Sub-orbital, parabolic profile
Reusable Yes, multiple flights daily

Sierra Nevada

Operating Principle: Develop high capacity, reusable, low-impact horizontal landing spacecraft that can be launched on existing rocket technology and carry astronauts safely to and from the ISS and deliver sensitive scientific payloads to orbit

Current vehicles: Dream Chaser

Current Destinations: Low-earth Orbit
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[accordion title=”Read More about Sierra Nevada” load=”hide”]Sierra Nevada’s Dream Chaser is part of its eclectic portfolio of space-systems products. It has developed the Dream Chaser in part through funding from NASA’s Commercial Crew Development program and Commercial Crew Integrated Capability contracts. The Dream Chaser at first glance looks like a miniature version of the Space Shuttle and is in fact derived from NASA’s HL-20 prototype. Like the shuttle it can carry up to 7 crew, is a vertical take-off and horizontal landing vehicle, and should be able to dock with the ISS. It is to be launched on the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Unlike the shuttle, the Dream Chaser has been designed to be low-maintenance enabling quick turn-around, has a large cross-range with frequent landing opportunities and utilizes non-toxic propulsion systems to reduce risks to crew in case of contingency. Sierra Nevada failed to secure the most recent round NASA Commercial Crew Program awards, so it remains unclear what its future holds.
Dream Chaser
Inaugural Launch Date 2016-2017
Acceleration Profile Similar to Soyuz on take-off, 1.5 Gz on landing
Passenger capacity 7 crew
Life Support System Pressurized cabin
Crew Worn Equipment TBD
Destinations Low-Earth Orbit
Reusable Yes
EXPECTED AEROMEDICAL CHALLENGES:
1) Developing medical standards, determining risk profiles, and establishing best practices to minimize in-flight and-post flight events amongst passengers with underlying chronic illnesses such as CAD, diabetes, heart failure, etc.
2) Developing safety standards for commercial crew with regards to total radiation exposure and flight hours per day/week/month
VIDEOS:
1) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SNCspacesystems
2) Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/search?q=virgin+galactic
NEWS:
— USEFUL LINKS:
1) Sierra Nevada Corporation: http://www.sncspace.com/ss_space_exploration.php
2) Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Nevada_Corporation
SOCIAL MEDIA:
1) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SNCspacesystems
2) Twitter: https://twitter.com/SierraCindy
3) Google+: https://plus.google.com/+SierraNevadaCorporationSparks

BLUE ORIGINS

Operating Principle:“We’re working to lower the cost of spaceflight so that many people can afford to go and so that we humans can better continue exploring the solar system. Accomplishing this mission will take time, and we’re working on it methodically…We are currently focused on developing rocket-powered Vertical Takeoff and Vertical Landing (VTVL) vehicles for access to suborbital and orbital space”

Current vehicles: New Shepard vehicle, developing propulsion module based on Blue Earth-4 engine in partnership with United Launch Alliance

UNITED LAUNCH ALLIANCE

Operating Principle: ULA is a 50-50 partnership between Boeing and Lockheed-Martin corporations that operates multi-stage to orbit rockets for civilian, military and commercial operators.

Current vehicles: Atlas V

Current Destinations: Low-Earth Orbit
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[accordion title=”Read More about ULA” load=”hide”]United launch alliance caters to a unique niche in the commercial spaceflight market by providing multi-stage rocket boosters capable of launching payloads and spacecraft to low-earth orbit. ULA’s primary rocket is the Atlas V, developed in 2002 and following in the footsteps of the famous line of Atlas rockets dating back to the 1950s. Unlike other commercial space operators, ULA has no spacecraft or capsules of its own that are capable of transporting crew or cargo to orbital destinations. Instead, ULA has become an integral part of the commercial human spaceflight industry by partnering with other operators such as Boeing and Sierra Nevada to launch their CST-100 and Dream Chaser spacecrafts, respectively. ULA recently announced a partnership with Blue Origins to jointly develop BO’s new rocket the BE-4 which it anticipates will replace the Russian made RD-180 that currently powers the first-stage of the Atlas V. ULA has been in discussions with Bigelow Aerospace to launch space-flight participants to its planned private space station likely using either a CST-100 or dream chaser spacecraft as its transportation vehicle. ULA received NASA funding through the first phase of the Commercial Crew Development program to develop an Emergency Detection System to human rate the Atlas V and anticipates completing initial test flights of the Boeing CST-100 and modified Atlas V combination sometime in 2015.
EXPECTED AEROMEDICAL CHALLENGES:
1) Developing medical standards, determining risk profiles, and establishing best practices to minimize in-flight and-post flight events amongst passengers with underlying chronic illnesses such as CAD, diabetes, heart failure, etc.
2) Developing safety standards for commercial crew with regards to total radiation exposure and flight hours per day/week/month
VIDEOS:
1) YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/UnitedLaunchAlliance
2) Vimeo: vimeo.com/tag:united+launch+alliance
NEWS:
1)
— USEFUL LINKS:
1) ULA website: www.ulalaunch.com
2) Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Launch_Alliance
SOCIAL MEDIA:
1) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ulalaunch
2) Twitter: https://twitter.com/ulalaunch
3) Google+: https://plus.google.com/111735333959081017951/about

BIGELOW AEROSPACE

Operating Principle: “Since 1999 our mission has been to provide affordable options for spaceflight to national space agencies and corporate clients. In 2006 and 2007, we launched our orbiting prototypes Genesis I and Genesis II. Using our patented expandable habitats, our plan is to greatly exceed the usable space of the International Space Station at a fraction of the cost by developing our next generation spacecraft.”

Current Destinations: Low-earth orbit
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[accordion title=”Read More about Bigelow Aerospace” load=”hide”]Bigelow aerospace is developing inflatable habitation modules that can be linked to form their own space-station or can be docked to the ISS to dramatically increase the amount of habitable volume for crewed space based activities. These modules are to be launched to low-earth orbit aboard SpaceX falcon 9 rockets. BA has already flown the Genesis I and II prototypes which have been in orbit since 2006 and 2007, respectively. They have partnered with NASA to develop the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module which will dock with the ISS in early to late 2015. It will remain docked for two years during which time astronauts aboard the ISS will monitor life support system parameters. With the success of the BEAM, Bigelow eventually hopes to launch its BA330 modules which provide a habitable volume of 330 cubic meters compared to 110 cubic meters for the BEAM modules. Two of the BA330 modules will be linked to form the Bigelow “alpha station” which will serve as the flagship Bigelow space station and be marketed to governments and industry as well as space tourists.

– Office of commercial space transportation established w/in the Dept. of Transportation

– Early operators: Orbital Science corp. and Space Services inc.

– Challenger tragedy and its impact on commercial operators

1990’s – “Faster, Better, Cheaper” era with increased NASA collaboration and decreased oversight lead to development of X33 and X34 space planes as well as the Roton, by the rotary rocket company

Stepping stones to development of COTS and increasing and evolving NASA partnership with commercial spaceflight sector

– Commercial Space Act of 1998 – “encouraged the development of commercial services by requiring the government to “acquire space transportation services from United States commercial providers whenever such services are required in the course of its activities”

Scaled Composites wins Ansari X prize and demonstrates commercial capability to send a human to 100km twice in two weeks and safely bring them back paving the way for private operators to demonstrate spaceflight capability

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There is little doubt that the difficulties (of long-duration spaceflight) are formidable, the unknowns significant, and the prerequisite research extensive in subject matter and in time needed for completion.”
Human Factors in Long-Duration Spaceflight, 1972